Undeclared weapons seized at Dulles airport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized a cache of firearms, which included AR-15s and AK-47s, as unmanifested freight at Washington Dulles International Airport. (Courtesy CBP)

WASHINGTON – A cache of firearms was seized last week at Washington Dulles International Airport, officials say.

Among the findings were 22 AR-15s, six AK-47s, one Glock 19 pistol and one Night Sprint NVG night vision monocular, Leesburg Today reports. Customs and Border Protection says the weapons were imported as unmanifested freight by a U.S.-based international security company from Iraq.

Officials say the company had notified border patrol that it intended to import firearms between 2004 and 2009. But the shipment was detained when it arrived at the airport between Aug. 19 and Nov. 6 after officials inventoried more than 6,000 items.

“We believe the firearms were erroneously inventoried or shipped to the United States. The security firm has declined interest in the firearms and so Customs and Border Protection seized the unmanifested firearms,” Christopher Hess, the port director for the Port of Washington, D.C., says.

Border patrol says it gave the security firm a chance to claim the inventory, but the company declined. Criminal charges have not been filed.

If the firearms remain unclaimed, they may be destroyed, officials say.